DESCRIPTION OF UNIFORMS
Elaborate uniforms have been avoided and as far as possible variety has been eliminated. To distinguish the different corps of workers an apron and a “coif” or headdress of different colors have been prescribed. For workrooms the apron is white, for the canteen service it is blue, and for the clerical service grey, all being of the same pattern.
Workroom Uniform.—For all workers on surgical dressings, garments and knitted articles. If it is found desirable to distinguish the workers in different workrooms, a white arm band or a sash marked in blue letters “Garments,” “Surgical Dressings,” “Knitting” or “Comforts” may be worn.
Apron.—A large white apron fastening in the back, with sleeves to the wrist and a V or square neck. The belt is three inches wide and there are two pockets in the skirt. A red cross, two inches square, may be worn in front at the center of the base of the neck.
Coif.—A veil of batiste or similar material, cut one yard long and one yard wide, with a lower hem one inch broad and a hem at the top two inches broad and turned back on the outside. The color of the veil is red, white or dark blue. A band of some stiffer material extends around the head one-half inch from the front hem and a red cross is worn in the center of the forehead band.
American Red Cross.
Bureau of Information and clerical service uniform
American Red Cross.
Canteen service, outdoor uniform
Instructors on active duty in workrooms wear either a red veil or a white veil with red band; heads of workrooms wear either a blue veil or a white veil with dark blue band, and all other workers wear a white veil with white band. They all wear the customary white apron and red crosses.
Motor Service Uniform.—For workers in the Motor Service the uniform consists of a long gray double-breasted coat of whipcord or Oxford cloth, with falling collar and notched lapels, an inverted box pleat in the back, a belt of the same material and flat buttons to match; a close fitting hat of the same material as the coat with a small red cross in the front; a short skirt of the same material as the coat; tan leather leggings and tan leather shoes. The insignia of the service is worn on the sleeve of the coat between the elbow and the cuff. It consists of a white square bearing a motor wheel with a red cross at the center.
Canteen Service Uniform.—The indoor uniform consists of an apron of the same style as the workroom apron, of horizon blue color, with a two-inch red cross at the base of the neck; white collar, white cuffs bearing a special insignia for these workers, and a veil of horizon blue bearing the same insignia on the front of the head band. This special insignia for the Canteen Workers is a woven white shield with a red cross at the center surrounded by the lettering “A. R. C. Canteen Worker.” The shield on the head band is two and one-quarter inches in size and that for the cuff one and one-half inches.
For outdoor work in winter the Canteen Service is provided with a gray whipcord overcoat and a close fitting gray cloth cap of the Royal Flying Corps type, the prescribed insignia being worn on the cuffs of the coat and on the front of the cap, as shown in the [illustration]. In summer a plain dark blue or black sailor hat with the insignia on the front of the band is worn either with or without the veil.
The special insignia for the Canteen Workers is necessary at all times in order that the wearers may be quickly recognized by commanders of troop trains and camp organizations.
Bureau of Information and Clerical Service Uniform.—This uniform consists of an apron of the same pattern as that for the workroom uniform of gray material and a gray veil. White collar and cuffs and the red cross on the apron and veil are worn with this uniform as shown by the [illustration].
Uniforms for Ushers and Others.—Ushers and other active personnel of the Red Cross, such as those engaged in membership campaigns, are allowed to wear a white badge on which is a red cross or they may wear a white sash with a red cross on the front.
Nurses’ Uniforms.—The uniforms for female nurses in the Red Cross hospitals are similar to those worn by such nurses in the Army and Navy, but the nurses in the base hospitals and other military hospitals in France are required to wear uniforms of gray material.
American Red Cross.
Canteen service, indoor uniform
CHAPTER XIII
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE WAR WORKERS OF
THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The War Work department of the Young Men’s Christian Association has established branches at the principal U. S. Army and Navy camps and stations at home and abroad for the benefit of the enlisted men. At these stations everything practicable is done for the comfort and entertainment of the soldiers, sailors and marines who may be in the vicinity; lectures, music and moving pictures are provided, books, magazines and papers are furnished and facilities for writing letters are supplied.
These Y. M. C. A. stations, or “huts” as they are frequently styled, are conducted by war workers detailed by the Association. In order that these war workers may be readily recognized at all times by officers and enlisted men a distinctive uniform has been authorized for them.
This uniform is made of forestry-green cloth and consists of a sack coat, breeches, tan leather shoes, tan leather leggings, cap or field hat, flannel shirt, four-in-hand tie, and an overcoat.
The coat is single-breasted, with a rolling collar and notched lapels, closed down the front by a single row of bronze buttons, shaped to the figure, the skirt extending to about ten inches below the waist. On each shoulder there is a shoulder strap sewn into the sleeve shoulder seam and attached at the collar end by a small bronze button. On each breast there is a patch pocket and on each side below the waist a patch pocket of the bellows type, each pocket being closed at the top by a shield shaped flap secured by a small bronze button. Around the waist is sewn a belt of the same material as the coat. The insignia of the Y. M. C. A. are worn upon the cuffs.
The breeches are of the same material as the coat and of the same style as those prescribed for officers of the U. S. Army.
The cap is of the same style and dimensions as that prescribed for officers of the U. S. Army, and is made of forestry-green cloth with a black mohair band, and visor and chin strap of black patent leather. The insignia of the Y. M. C. A. are worn at the center of the front of the cap.
The field hat is of the U. S. Army regulation pattern and color with hat cord of red and blue braided strands.
The overcoat is a double-breasted ulster of forestry-green cloth, with two rows of bronze buttons down the front, buttons to the throat and has a stand and fall collar of the same style as the U. S. Army regulation overcoat. On the back at the waist line there are two straps of the same material as the coat let into the side seams and secured together by two bronze buttons. On each side below the waist there is a pocket with a horizontal opening covered by a rectangular flap. The skirts of the overcoat extend to about ten inches below the knee when the wearer is standing. The Y. M. C. A. insignia are worn upon the cuffs.
Photo. by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C.
Y. M. C. A. War worker in service uniform
Photo. by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C.
Y. M. C. A. War worker in service dress.
Uniform and overcoat
The insignia of the Y. M. C. A. war workers consist of a red equilateral triangle, worn with one of the angles pointing down, and having horizontally across the center of the triangle a rectangular strip of blue upon which are the letters “Y. M. C. A.” in red. These insignia are worn upon the fronts of the caps and upon the outer side of the cuffs of the coat and overcoat sleeves.
The buttons are of dark bronze and bear the insignia of the Y. M. C. A.
CHAPTER XIV
CUSTOMS OF THE SERVICES
The rules which govern official and social intercourse among members of the military and naval services are based upon the well established customs which prevail in all walks of life, modified only to such extent as may be required by the peculiar conditions of the services in order to secure the greatest degree of efficiency and discipline.
In a military sense discipline may be defined as the cheerful, unquestioned and implicit obedience to the orders from higher authority in such manner as to secure systematic action and the cooperation of all of the component parts of a military force whatever its size may be. This requires a close acquaintance between officers and men, a mutual respect and confidence between them, and combined with this the long hours of drill that tend to make obedience second nature and that harden all physically and bring the whole machine to that high state of discipline and training that may be termed “the fighting edge.”
To secure the desired end requires such a degree of mutual respect among all of the personnel that there will never be the slightest lack of confidence nor hesitation in complying with an order. To many civilians the military hand salute appears unnecessary and it has even been proposed in some quarters to abolish such salutes by enactment of law on the ground that they are not in accord with the spirit of American institutions. Yet the soldier knows that the salute is but the outward and visible sign of discipline, that it denotes smartness and esprit, that it is the patent evidence of alertness and cohesion and the very antithesis of slouchiness and disaffection.
The regulations of the services are insistent that discipline shall be enforced with firmness and decision but at the same time with constant consideration of the rights and feelings of others, whatever their rank or station may be. Courtesy and politeness are demanded at all times in the services of the United States and no enforcement of authority through the “rule of fear” is tolerated.
Strict attention to personal bearing and appearance is an index of character no less in the military services than in other walks of life, as the soldier who is not neat and clean when it is possible for him to be so can rarely be depended upon in a pinch. The best soldiers and sailors get their “clean shave” every morning when soap and water are obtainable whether in the security of peace or the stress of wartime. As one fine soldier expressed it, “We try to live clean, fight clean, and if need be we’ll die clean.”
Salutes.—On shore salutes are exchanged between officers and between officers and enlisted men not in military formation, nor at drill, work, games or mess, on every occasion of their meeting, passing near or being addressed, the officer who is junior in rank or the enlisted man always saluting first and the senior always promptly returning the salute.
Upon the entry of an officer into a room where there are several enlisted men some one of them who sees him calls “Attention,” whereupon all rise and stand at attention until the officer leaves the room or orders otherwise. If at meals enlisted men stop eating and remain seated and quiet. Officers and enlisted men if seated, rise upon the approach of a senior officer, face toward him and salute, and if standing they face toward the senior and salute. Soldiers do not stop work upon the approach of an officer unless addressed by the officer. Before addressing an officer an enlisted man salutes and also salutes again after receiving the reply of the officer.
No salutes are rendered by men on guard duty over prisoners if it will interfere with the execution of their duty.
Officers or enlisted men passing the uncased colors always salute.
No salutes are rendered when troops are marching in double time or at the trot or gallop when mounted.
When an officer or enlisted man is mounted and has a communication to make to a senior who is dismounted the junior dismounts before saluting and delivering his message, except during field maneuvers or campaigns where time might be lost in doing so.
It should be noted that in all cases both the junior and the senior salute, but that military courtesy requires the junior to salute first.
No salutes are exchanged between enlisted men but it is customary for enlisted men to stand at attention when addressed officially by other enlisted men who are their seniors in rank.
If an enlisted man is in a military formation and is personally addressed by an officer he does not salute, but if not already standing at attention he comes to that position at once.
The distance within which salutes are rendered, known as “saluting distance,” is taken to be that within which the uniform and insignia of an officer is readily distinguishable, normally about thirty paces, one pace being thirty inches, and salutes are generally exchanged at a distance of about six feet.
In railway trains, street cars, theaters and public buildings where salutes would be manifestly inappropriate or where the observance of the rules regarding saluting would be apt to interfere with civilians present salutes are usually not rendered.
Officers and enlisted men in civilian clothing exchange salutes in the same manner as if wearing uniform, but no officer in civilian clothes is saluted with cannon or has a guard of honor turned out and paraded in his honor.
The same salutes are given by all officers and enlisted men of the military and naval forces to officers of foreign armies and navies.
On board ships of the Navy officers and enlisted men while on board their own ship salute their captain on every occasion of meeting, passing near or being addressed by him. They salute all officers who are their senior in rank on the occasion of their first daily meeting or passing near and upon being addressed by the senior officer, and at other times during the day they stand at attention instead of saluting. Officers from other ships are saluted on each occasion of meeting or passing near.
When in uniform officers and enlisted men should salute ladies with the military hand salute and the headdress should not be removed for this purpose when out of doors.
The Navy Regulations require that all boats from men-of-war shall exchange salutes when passing each other in accordance with the following table, which covers all of the various conditions likely to arise.
Rank or rate of the senior in the saluting boat. | Rank of the senior officer in the boat to be saluted. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Flag or general officer (with flag flying). | Commanding officer above rank of lieutenant (with pennant flying). | Other commissioned officer. | Midshipman or warrant officer. | |
Flag or general officer. | Junior salutes with hand. | |||
Commanding officer above rank of lieutenant (with pennant flying). | Stops engine, lays on oars, and salutes with hand. | Junior salutes with hand. | ||
Other naval officer below flag rank and above rank of lieutenant, and marine officers of corresponding rank. | Stops engine, lays on oars, and salutes with hand. | When meeting a senior commanding officer, or immediate commanding officer, stops engine, lays on oars, and salutes with hand. | Junior salutes with hand. | |
Other commissioned officers. | Stops engine, tosses or trails oars, and salutes with hand. | Stops engine, lays on oars, and salutes with hand. | Junior salutes with hand. | |
Midshipman or warrant officer. | Stops engine, tosses or trails oars, and salutes with hand. | Stops engine, lays on oars, and salutes with hand. | Salutes with hand. | Junior salutes with hand. |
Officer and coxswain in loaded or towing boat or boat under sail. | Salutes with hand. | Salutes with hand. | Junior salutes with hand. | Junior salutes with hand. |
Coxswain. | Stops engine, tosses or trails oars, stands, and salutes with hand. | Stops engine, lays on oars, stands, and salutes with hand. | Stands and salutes with hand. | Salutes with hand. |
The starboard gangway ladder is used habitually by officers and their visitors when going on board of a man-of-war or departing therefrom, and the port gangway is used by all other persons. In other words the starboard gangway may be considered the “front door” of a ship. Yet whenever circumstances render it advisable or necessary an exception may be made to this rule by the commanding officer’s order.
Upon reaching the quarterdeck from a boat, from a gangway or from the shore, or from any other part of the ship, officers and men face the colors, stand at attention and salute the colors; and the same procedure is followed upon leaving the quarterdeck.
After saluting the colors upon arriving on the quarterdeck and just before saluting the colors upon leaving the quarterdeck, officers and enlisted men salute the officer of the deck, and the officer of the deck returns both the salute to the colors and the salute to him.
Officers coming on board usually, after saluting the officer of the deck, say, “I request permission to come aboard, sir,” and briefly state their business; and after saluting the officer of the deck upon leaving the ship they say, “I request permission to leave the ship, sir.” The same procedure should be followed by civilians visiting a ship except that no salutes to the officer of the deck are required.
Strict observance of military custom demands that an officer in uniform and under arms, that is carrying the weapon with which he is armed or wearing his belt and sword, should not remove his headdress either out of doors or within doors; but in deference to the universal custom among civilians it is considered proper for officers in uniform and wearing their swords sheathed to remove their headdress when entering a room, especially in case there are ladies present. Under such circumstances the headdress is carried under the left arm, leaving the right hand free to shake hands. With the sword drawn and in hand the headdress should not be removed from the head.
The pedantic observance of so-called military customs is both unnecessary and objectionable, and the safest course is follow the rules of deportment which distinguish the gentleman the world over.
Following the universal custom the right side is considered the position of honor and hence when two or more officers are walking or riding in company the senior walks or rides on the right, and likewise the senior occupies the seat at the right side in a carriage or other conveyance.
Visits and Courtesies.—An officer arriving at the headquarters of a military command calls upon the commander as soon as practicable and registers his name, address and probable length of stay. If the visiting officer is senior in rank to the commander he may send his card and address, in which case it becomes the duty of the commander to make the first call. When an Army officer arrives at Washington, D. C., he reports at the office of the Adjutant General of the Army, and registers his name, local address and business in Washington. Naval officers under similar circumstances register at the Navy Department and Marine officers at the Headquarters of the Marine Corps.
After reporting for duty at a station on shore or aboard ship an officer makes a social call upon the commanding officer who returns the call promptly. In the case of other officers at the post it is the custom for all of those already at the station to call upon the late arrival, thus following the American and not the European custom in this respect. In addition to the social call upon the commanding officer the arriving officer also makes a call upon any officer at the station or on board of the ship who is senior to the commanding officer, as in the case of a general officer at an Army station or a flag officer on board of a ship.
In the case of the arrival of a ship in a foreign port calls are interchanged according to well established international rules between the senior officer of the ship or ships arriving and those already stationed at the port. The general rule is that if the two officers are of the same grade the latest arrival makes the first call, but if they are of different grades the junior makes the first call. The arriving officer, however, always makes the first call upon the highest civil official ashore at a foreign port.
Upon the arrival of a United States fleet, squadron or single ship at a foreign port, the senior naval officer exchanges calls with diplomatic and consular officers who may be stationed there according to the following rules:—
A flag officer or commodore pays the first visit to diplomatic officers of or above the rank of chargé d’affaires and receives the first visit from consular officers.
A commanding officer pays the first visit to diplomatic officers of or above the rank of chargé d’affaires and to a consul general and receives the first visit from all other consular officers.
It will readily be seen that all of these rules and conventions are devised for the purpose of avoiding friction or misunderstanding and to secure efficiency and smoothness in the official and social relations between officers and officials of different services and nationalities.
CHAPTER XV
HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
The honors and distinctions shown to the National Flag, to the President and other high Government officials, to the National Anthem and to the officers of the various ranks in the different services composing the Armed Forces of the United States are prescribed in the U. S. Army Regulations and the U. S. Navy Regulations, which are issued by the Secretaries of War and the Navy by authority of the President of the United States.
At Army Posts and Stations the National Flag is hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sunset and on board ships of the Navy the National Flag is hoisted at 8 a. m. and lowered at sunset, these occasions being known as “Morning Colors” and “Evening Colors.”
While the National Flag is being hoisted and lowered all officers and enlisted men stand at attention facing the flag, if in uniform and covered they stand at the salute during the hoisting or lowering of the flag and if in civilian dress covered, they uncover and hold the headdress opposite the left shoulder. The latter form of salute is the correct one for all civilians who desire to so honor the flag of their country.
When passing the National Flag flown at an Army post or on board a ship of the Navy, the flag is saluted with the “right hand salute” or if arms are carried in hand, with the prescribed salute for the arm carried. The same honor is accorded to the flag when it is carried past by any organization of the military or naval forces. The same honor is accorded by members of the military and naval forces of the United States to the flags of other nations under like circumstances.
When a band is present at morning or evening colors the National Anthem is played during the hoisting and lowering of the colors, and when ships of the navies of other nations are in the same port the national anthem of those nations is also played by the bands of ships of the United States Navy.
The National Anthem of the United States of America is the composition consisting of the words and music known as “The Star Spangled Banner,” which was officially designated as such by the President of the United States on August 23, 1916.
For many years of its existence as a nation the United States of America had no officially recognized national anthem although various national songs and airs attained widespread popularity. During the Revolution “Yankee Doodle” and “The World Turned Upside Down” were popular military airs and the former still survives to some extent as a national song.
In 1832 the Reverend Samuel Francis Smith, a Baptist minister of Boston, wrote the song entitled “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” and it was set to the music of the British National Anthem, “God Save the King,” and widely published in prayer books as the American National Hymn. This has led many people to believe that it was the official National anthem; however this is not the case, as it never received any official recognition as such.
During the Civil War, 1861 to 1865, there were a number of airs that reached great popularity among the soldiers and sailors of both sides, the most stirring of these airs being “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” in the North and “Dixie” in the South.
The Navy Regulations of 1890 prescribed that “The Star Spangled Banner” should be played by the bands at morning colors and “Hail, Columbia” at evening colors, thus giving an official standing to both airs.
In the Navy Regulations of 1893 and the Army Regulations of 1895 “The Star Spangled Banner” was prescribed for use at colors and came to be officially recognized as the National Air, but it was not until the President’s order of August 23, 1916, that it became the official National Anthem.
By the order of the President the honors shown to the National Anthem are prescribed in the U. S. Army Regulations as follows:
Whenever the National Anthem is played at any place when persons belonging to the military services are present, all officers and enlisted men not in formation shall stand at attention facing toward the music (except at retreat, when they shall face toward the flag). If in uniform, covered, they shall salute at the first note of the anthem, retaining the position of salute until the last note of the anthem. If not in uniform and covered, they shall uncover at the first note of the anthem, holding the headdress opposite the left shoulder and so remain until its close, except that in inclement weather the headdress may be held slightly raised.
The same rules apply when “To the Color” or “To the Standard” is sounded as when the National Anthem is played.
When played by an Army band, the National Anthem shall be played through without repetition of any part not required to be repeated to make it complete.
The same marks of respect prescribed for observance during the playing of the National Anthem of the United States shall be shown toward the National Anthem of any other country when played upon official occasions.
The U. S. Navy Regulations prescribe the same honors whenever the National Anthem is played on board a vessel of the Navy, at a Naval Station or at any place where persons belonging to the naval service are present.
Civilians wishing to pay the proper honor to the National Anthem should stand at attention whenever present at any place where the National Anthem is played and if covered they should remove the headdress and hold it opposite the left shoulder while standing at attention during the playing of the music.
When the President of the United States visits a Fort or Station of the United States Army he is received with the command formed in line under arms, the national colors and regimental standards being carried by the troops, officers and men saluting with the “Present arms,” the band playing the National Anthem followed by four ruffles of the drums and four flourishes of the bugles.
An ex-President and Vice President of the United States are received with the same honors except that the band plays a march instead of the National Anthem.
The President of a foreign republic or the sovereign or a member of the royal family of a foreign country is received with the same honors as the President of the United States except that the National Anthem of his country will be played by the band.
Members of the President’s Cabinet, the Chief Justice, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, American and foreign Ambassadors and Governors (within their respective states or territories) are received with the same honors as the Vice President except that the number of ruffles and flourishes is three.
General Officers of the Army or Marine Corps and Flag Officers of the Navy are received with the national colors and regimental standards, officers and men saluting with the “Present arms,” the band playing a march followed by ruffles and flourishes of the drums and bugles, the number of ruffles and flourishes depending upon the rank of the officer being received, as follows:
General or Admiral—four ruffles and flourishes.
Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral—three ruffles and flourishes.
Major General or Rear Admiral—two ruffles and flourishes.
Brigadier General or Commodore—one ruffle and flourish.
In addition to the above honors salutes with cannon are fired upon the arrival and departure of the President of the United States and the president or sovereign or a member of the royal family of a foreign country; and upon the arrival of other officials and military and naval officers in accordance with their rank as follows:
Officers of foreign armies and navies are received with the same honors as those tendered to officers of like rank in our own services.
At every Army post provided with suitable artillery a cannon salute of twenty-one guns, known as a “National salute,” is fired at noon on Washington’s Birthday, February 22nd, and on Memorial Day, May 30th, and on Independence Day, July 4th, a salute of one gun for each state in the Union is fired.
The honors and ceremonies to be observed when the President of the United States or the president or sovereign of another country, or a lesser official entitled to such honor visits a ship of the U. S. Navy are given in the following table from the U. S. Navy Regulations.
These honors are decided by international custom and are practically the same in all of the navies of the world and a strict observance of them is necessary to avoid any occasion for international misunderstanding that might arise from an omission of any customary honor or salute.
In addition to the gun salutes described in the above table a National salute, twenty-one guns, is fired by every ship in the Navy at noon on Independence Day, July 4th, Washington’s Birthday, February 22nd, and Memorial Day, May 30th.
Abbreviations.
S. F. D.—Special Full dress.
S. boys.—Side boys who stand at either side of the head of the gangway or ladder by which the official comes aboard of the ship.
When a ship of the Navy is in a port of a foreign country upon the National holiday of that country a salute of twenty-one guns is fired at noon on that day.
In accordance with established military courtesy salutes are exchanged between officers and between officers and enlisted men not in a military formation, nor at drills, at work, engaged in playing athletic games or at meals, on every occasion of their meeting or passing or being addressed by a senior, the officer who is junior in rank or the enlisted man saluting first, and the officer senior in rank returning the salute.
When the officer or enlisted man is not bearing arms of any kind in his hands he salutes with the right hand by bringing the hand smartly up to the visor of the cap above the right eye, fingers closed, hand, wrist and forearm straight, palm of the hand to the left and right forearm at an angle of forty-five degrees, and then dropping the arms to the side.
The distance within which salutes are required is that within which recognition is easy, usually considered to be about thirty paces (twenty-five yards).
When troops of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are reviewed by the President of the United States or by any official or officer entitled to review them, they march past the reviewing officer with the bands playing a suitable march, the colors and standards saluting, officers and enlisted men rendering the marching salute and the drummers and buglers sounding the ruffles and flourishes appropriate to the rank of the reviewing officer.
The salute with the colors and standards is made by drooping them to the front. The marching salute for officers and enlisted men is made by turning the head and eyes toward the person to be saluted and is known as “eyes right” or “eyes left,” depending upon whether the position of the reviewing officer is to the right or left of the column as it passes in review, officers also salute with the sword by bringing it up and to the front until the hand grasping the hilt is opposite the chin and then sweeping the hand and sword down and to the right.
Many of the regiments of the Army have distinctive marches which are played when passing in review but no distinctive march has ever been adopted for the Army as a whole.
The march usually played by the bands of the sailor regiments of the Navy when passing in review is “A Life on the Ocean Wave,” and that played by the bands of the Marine Corps under the same circumstances is “Semper Fidelis,” the title of the march being the motto of the Marine Corps.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
“THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER”
Written by Francis Scott Key while a prisoner on board the British Ship Surprise during the bombardment of Fort McHenry near Baltimore during the War of 1812.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes. What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam. In full glory reflected now shines on the stream; ’Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is the band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and wild war’s desolation; Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heaven-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our Trust!” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
THE END